Nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated in Taiwan ahead of Typhoon Haikui expected late Sunday evening, authorities said, with more than 200 flights canceled and schools and businesses closed in southern and eastern parts of Taiwan. island.

The Interior Ministry said more than 2,800 people have been evacuated from seven cities, mostly in the mountainous eastern county of Hualien.

Haikui has already caused heavy rain in the morning and is blowing winds of around 140 km / h. It should make landfall in the Taitung region, neighboring Hualien County, at 5 p.m. local time (0900 GMT).

Over 200 domestic flights have been canceled. Schools and businesses have closed in the south and east of the island.

The streets of Hualien, capital of the eponymous county, were deserted on Sunday morning, battered by torrential rains.

In a fishing port in Yilan, further north, huge waves crashed against the coast.

It must be “the first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan in four years”, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Sunday, calling on the population to “prepare”, to “avoid going outside or practicing dangerous activities”.

Just before 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), Haikui was about 180 kilometers east of the island, according to Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Bureau.

“It has strengthened somewhat since yesterday (Saturday),” noted its deputy director, Fong Chin-tzu, during a press conference during which he urged the population to “stay on their guard”. .

Haikui “is expected to pose a considerable threat to most parts of Taiwan with winds, rains and waves”, he warned, adding that the storm would then head west towards the Taiwan Strait. Monday.

The army has mobilized soldiers and equipment, such as amphibious vehicles and inflatable boats, in areas of the island where the greatest damage is feared.

But Haikui is expected to be weaker than Saola, which raised high alerts in Hong Kong and southern China before degrading into a tropical storm on Saturday.

The last major storm to hit the island was Typhoon Bailu, which claimed one death in 2019.

03/09/2023 07:10:42 –         Yilan (Taïwan) (AFP)